Christodora

What Christodora does

Christodora Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1897 (originally as The Young Women's Settlement, renamed Christodora — "Gift of Love" — in 1898) that delivers environmental education programs to underserved New York City youth. The organization's core offerings include the Manice Education Center (MEC), a flagship overnight summer camp in Florida, Massachusetts operating since 1982 (44th year in 2025); the Winter Ecology Program (WEP), a seven-week in-school environmental science curriculum for NYC middle schools aligned to Next Generation Science Standards; the CORE (Community of Rising Environmentalists) program serving Bronx high school students; the New Youth Conservationists Saturday program; and school field trips at MEC. Programs are heavily subsidized through donations to ensure accessibility.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; programs are delivered through in-person instruction, outdoor experiential learning, and stewardship activities by Christodora staff at its NYC headquarters (1 East 53rd Street) and the Berkshires facility. Christodora operates a basic digital presence via a Squarespace website plus donation infrastructure on GoFundMe, GiveLively, and Classy, with annual reports and newsletters as primary content channels.

Christodora's revenue model is entirely donation-based, combining individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Microsoft, KPMG, ConEdison, Select Equity, Skadden, Roux Inc., Abrams Capital, Perkins Coie), foundation grants (Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Elliman Scholarship Program), and event-based fundraising (Campfire Gala, Spring Soiree, 5 Boro Bike Tour). The 2024 5 Boro Bike Tour raised over $46,000 and the Spring Soiree raised nearly $10,000. Programs are provided at no or reduced cost to students through scholarship-based access. Governance is by a board of directors led by Board President Pamela Manice, with Executive Director Salma Choudhury-Muro (since January 2023).

Name

Christodora

Legal name

Christodora Inc.

Website

https://christodora.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Christodora is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1897 that delivers environmental education programs — including the Manice Education Center summer camp, Winter Ecology Program, and CORE program — to underserved New York City youth, funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Environmental Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs) (THAAAGAK), Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals) (EDALAIAG)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Youth outdoor education
• Nonprofit youth services
• Summer ecology programs
• Urban youth conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Christodora relies primarily on individual donations from supporters, alumni, and community members. The organization conducts annual fundraising campaigns including the 'Summer Changes Everything' send-a-student-to-camp campaign and accepts donations through GoFundMe and GiveLively platforms.
2. Corporate Sponsorship and Grants: Christodora receives support from corporate sponsors and foundations including Microsoft, KPMG, ConEdison, Select Equity, Skadden, and various family foundations. The organization has received grants from the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation and Lily Auchincloss Foundation.
3. Event-Based Fundraising: Annual gala events including the Campfire Gala, Spring Soiree, and 5 Boro Bike Tour serve as major fundraising initiatives. The 2024 5 Boro Bike Tour raised over $46,000 and the Spring Soiree raised nearly $10,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Christodora provides environmental education programs for New York City youth through residential summer sessions at the Manice Education Center in the Berkshires, school-based field trips, and weekend and winter conservation activities. Programs are designed to develop environmental literacy and leadership skills for urban youth.

Product overview

Christodora is a nonprofit educational organization offering a portfolio of environmental education programs for NYC youth. The core offerings include the Manice Education Center (summer overnight camp in Massachusetts), the Winter Ecology Program (in-school curriculum for middle schools), the CORE Program (year-round environmental leadership), School Field Trips at MEC, and the New Youth Conservationists Saturday program. Additional services include an online store and scholarship programs. These programs collectively aim to build nature awareness, leadership skills, and environmental stewardship among underserved New York City youth through year-round programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Sessions at the Manice Education Center
• Winter Ecology Program (WEP)
• CORE Program
• School Field Trips
• New Youth Conservationists
• Elliman Scholarship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Students report increased understanding of their place in ecosystems and nature conservation importance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Outward BoundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutward Bound partners with Christodora through the Elliman Scholarship Program, providing sailing expeditions such as the Hurricane Island Sailing Expedition for scholarship recipients.
• NYC Parks Department / Northern Manhattan ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for volunteer stewardship days and environmental education activities in NYC parks including Fort Tryon Park and Crotona Park in the Bronx.
• Mianus River Gorge PreserveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCORE program students visit Mianus River Gorge Preserve for environmental education hikes and trail stewardship activities. Staff including Chris Nagy (Director of Research and Education) and Budd Verka (Director of Land Management) lead programming.
• Yale Day of ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer group that participated in the Crotona Park stewardship day with Christodora's New Youth Conservationists program.
• Molly Oliver FlowersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided naturalistic table arrangements featuring asters and goldenrod for the Campfire 2025 gala, reflecting the botanical theme honoring Ted Elliman.
• Genevieve GoeletminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChristodora board member and artist who created original artwork displayed on table cards and in the digital journal for the Campfire 2025 gala.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Riverkeeper: NY-based water-focused environmental nonprofit with growing youth education programming on watersheds and ecology. Comparable as a regional environmental education nonprofit with overlapping curriculum themes to Christodora's Winter Ecology Program.
• Earthwatch Institute: Global environmental education nonprofit offering youth expeditions and citizen science programs. Comparable as a youth-focused environmental experiential learning provider, though operating at smaller scale and a more national/international footprint.

Direct peers

• Outward Bound USA: National outdoor education nonprofit serving youth through wilderness expeditions. Already a Christodora programming partner via the Elliman Scholarship Program, making it both a direct comparable and an operational collaborator in the same youth outdoor education niche.
• City Parks Foundation (NYC): NYC nonprofit delivering environmental education, sports, and stewardship programs in underserved communities across the five boroughs. Direct peer operating the same NYC-based youth environmental education model with a similar school-partnership go-to-market.
• Student Conservation Association: National nonprofit providing youth outdoor service, conservation, and career programming. Directly comparable mission of building environmental stewardship among young people through hands-on outdoor experiences and school partnerships.
• NYC Audubon: NYC-based nonprofit delivering urban environmental education focused on birds and ecology. Comparable as a NYC nonprofit delivering hands-on urban nature programming to underserved youth and school communities through similar partnership models.

Broad incumbents

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Established Northeast outdoor education and recreation nonprofit operating lodges, trails, and youth programming. Larger and broader portfolio than Christodora but operates overlapping outdoor youth education programs in the same Northeast geography.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Major global conservation organization with significant NYC-based youth education programming (Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, etc.). Comparable as an institutional NYC environmental education provider; board member Chris McKenzie has prior affiliation with WCS.
• The Nature Conservancy (NY Chapter): Global conservation nonprofit with NYC-based youth and community education programming. Comparable as a large-scale environmental education provider with school partnerships and stewardship activities, though operating at a much larger scale.

Regional players

• GreenWood (NYC Green-Wood Cemetery education programs): Brooklyn-based historic site providing environmental education programming for NYC students. Comparable as a NYC single-site environmental education provider focused on urban ecology and school field-trip delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christodora
• Xx.com/Christodora

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Christodora